The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Last Night When We Were Young

The song of the day for Tuesday, September 22, 2026, is “Last Night When We Were Young.”

About This Song

“Last Night When We Were Young” was written in 1935 by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. Arlen considered “Last Night When We Were Young” one of his favorite songs. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder calls it a “most remarkable and beautiful song (that) goes far beyond the boundaries of popular music.” Yip Harburg has said that he doesn’t know exactly where the title came from but that “the juxtaposition of those two phrases is almost a whole world of philosophy.” All in all, it’s a wonderful and introspective song that is much beloved by singers.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Last Night When We Were Young” in June 1992 for his tribute to Frank Sinatra: Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangements and led his trio (Sharon: piano, Paul Langosch (bass), and Joe LaBarbera: drums).

Perfectly Frank won the 1993 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

“Last Night When We Were Young,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available on Apple Music.

Frank Sinatra recorded “Last Night When We Were Young” for In The Wee Small Hours, released in 1955. Nelson Riddle wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

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Song of the Day: When The Sun Comes Out

The song of the day for Thursday, August 27, 2026, is “When The Sun Comes Out.”

About This Song

“When The Sun Comes Out” was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler in 1941. The first recording of the song was made by Helen O’Connell with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. Barbra Streisand recorded it for The Second Barbra Streisand Album, released in 1962.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “When The Sun Comes Out” on August 17, 1960, for Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen. Glenn Osser wrote the arrangement.

“When The Sun Comes Out,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen, is available on Apple Music.

Barbra Streisand was cast as Miss Miss Marmelstein in the 1962 Broadway musical I Can Get It For You Wholesale at the age of 19. She was so good that her role was expanded during rehearsals to take advantage of her prodigious talents. She was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. She was signed by Columbia Records based on her performance in I Can Get It For You Wholesale. While preparing to record the Barbra Streisand Album, which won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, she did a run at the Bon Soir club in Greenwich Village, which resulted in the recently release album Barbra Streisand Live at the Bon Soir, where she sang “When The Sun Comes Out.”

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Song of the Day: When The Sun Comes Out

The song of the day for Wednesday, July 29, 2026, is “When The Sun Comes Out.”

About This Song

“When The Sun Comes Out” was written in 1941 by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler. Helen O’Connell, with The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, introduced the song. Barbra Streisand recorded for The Second Barbra Streisand Album in 1963.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “When The Sun Comes Out” on August 17, 2026, for his 1960 album Tony Bennett A String Of Harold Arlen. Glenn Osser wrote the arrangement.

“When The Sun Comes Out,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Barbra Streisand‘s extraordinary live recording of “When The Sun Comes Out” from 1962’s Live at the Bon Soir, made when she was only 20. The entire album is extraordinary,

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Song of the Day: Out of This World

The song of the day for Sunday, July 19, 2026 is “Out of This World.”

About This Song

“Out of This World” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1945 movie of the same name. Out Of This World starred Eddie Bracken; however Bing Crosby dubbed the vocals for Bracken and introduced the song. Alec Wilder was a fan of “Out of This World”, praising its ethereal quality and the excellent lyrics by Mercer.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Out of This World” on October 15, 1964, with an outstanding jazz quartet: Herbie Hancock (piano), Stan Getz (tenor sax), Ron Carter (bass) and Elvin Jones (drums).

“Out of This World,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Over the Rainbow

The song of the day for Wednesday, June 10, 2026, is “Over the Rainbow.”

About Today

We are remembering the great Judy Garland, who was born in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, on June 10, 1922.

About This Song

“Over the Rainbow” was written in 1939 by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. Probably the most widely known of all Arlen’s and Harburg’s songs, “Over The Rainbow” is from the The Wizard Of Oz. Interestingly, the producers wanted to cut the song from the film, as they felt it slowed down the movie. Thankfully, the preview audiences preferred the movie with the song.

“Over The Rainbow” ranked as the #1 song of the 20th century per the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment of the Arts. The song has always been closely associated with Judy Garland. In a letter to Harold Arlen, Judy Garland wrote that “the song has become part of my life. It’s so symbolic of everybody’s dreams and wishes that I’m sure that’s why some people get tears in their eyes when they hear it. I’ve sung it thousands of times and it’s still the song that’s closest to my heart.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Over The Rainbow” on August 15, 1960, for Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen. Glenn Osser wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Over the Rainbow” as well as Tony Bennett Sigs a String of Harold Arlen, is available on Apple Music.

We have two wonderful videos about today’s song.

You can the full segment of Harburg’s appearance on that program here.

And, to wrap up this look at “Over the Rainbow,” here’s Judy Garland from The Wizard of Oz.